Chapter 58: Winning a Hundred Million (2)

At this moment, the crowd was already dumbfounded, and even Zhao Ying was looking at Lin Fan with an expression of utter disbelief...
Even Jin Million had to admit that the man before them was undoubtedly a genius of wine tasting! As for the manager’s words just now, they were nothing but a mere supplement.

Witnessing Lin Fan’s display, those around were startled once again. Lin Fan’s elegant voice sounded at just the right moment: “Such fine wine—if one were to drink it in abundance, it would be as if, after beholding countless peerless beauties, how could one ever again be moved by mere ordinary faces?”

The crowd erupted in applause, loudly praising the master’s unique insights.

Realizing the tide had turned, Jin Million strode over, handed the check to Lin Fan, and said, “You’ve won. It’s yours now.”

“It was nothing but a jest, Young Master Jin, there’s no need to take it so seriously,” Lin Fan replied with gentlemanly modesty.

If Jin Million had a knife in hand, he’d surely have stabbed Lin Fan in the gut a hundred times over. He, the future heir of the Haitian Group, scion of the Jin family, could accept losing. But if, after losing, the other party refused even to take the wager, that would be the true humiliation!

Without giving Lin Fan a chance to refuse, Jin Million stuffed the check into his arms and declared, “What’s yours is yours. I never joke with strangers!”

“In that case, I won’t keep a single cent. I’ll do my utmost to spend it all at the auction later, a small contribution of my own,” Lin Fan answered, as if Jin Million were truly insisting he take it.

“That’s your business!” Jin Million shot him a glare, swallowed his anger, and turned on his heel.

Zhao Ying stared blankly at Lin Fan, the shock and curiosity in her eyes refusing to fade. Though the others hadn’t approached, she knew they were all discussing the young man beside her—her man!

Who would have thought that he could taste wine? Not only could he, but he surpassed even the young master of the Haitian Group! Zhao Ying sighed inwardly. She truly couldn’t imagine how the same man who dragged her to eat hot pot in the sweltering summer, who killed without hesitation, who dodged a sniper’s bullet at a critical moment—could really be just a lowly security guard?

She occasionally glanced at Lin Fan’s chiseled profile, searching for answers, but found nothing—only the faint scar on his brow, those deep, ocean-like phoenix eyes, and the subtle confidence at the corner of his lips.

“What is it? Did a flower bloom on my face, or are you lovestruck again?” Lin Fan teased with a wicked grin, touching his face.

“Hmph! You’re so skilled at tasting wine, yet you never told me. You had Feifei and me worried sick,” Zhao Ying huffed, not noticing Feifei’s expression and assuming she too had been anxious for Lin Fan.

“You never asked, did you?” Lin Fan rolled his eyes with a smile. “Isn’t the auction about to start?”

Zhao Ying looked up, shot him a quick glance, and nodded lightly. “Mm.”

“Then let’s go up,” Lin Fan suggested.

“Alright.”

Feifei had been walking beside Lin Fan, but this time, like Zhao Ying, she reached out to take his arm. The three of them entered the elevator side by side, heading for the top floor.

Lin Fan couldn’t help but smile wryly to himself: “Looks like my little sister is jealous.” Of course, his understanding of jealousy was based on the assumption that Feifei was just his sister. He hadn’t noticed her true feelings for him, and any fleeting doubts he’d had, he’d dismissed without a second thought.

As they entered the elevator, Lin Fan playfully winked in the direction of Lin Yan.

Standing upstairs, Lin Yan was momentarily taken aback. She turned to the young man beside her and asked, “Has he already noticed us?”

The young man, having also seen Lin Fan’s mischievous smile, replied, “Sister Yan, the boss saw us long ago.”

Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully. After a few years apart, her brother seemed more and more enigmatic—sometimes, even she had no idea what he was thinking.

Ever since Lin Fan had bested Jin Million, he was already famous. If nothing else, just the hundred million check in his hand made him the city’s youngest tycoon—though in truth, his fortune was already inestimable.

No one would doubt the validity of a check signed by the heir of the Haitian Group. So, as Lin Fan made his way to the top-floor auction, people greeted him with nods and smiles at every turn.

Of course, Lin Fan returned their greetings with polite smiles—he had no wish to be seen as arrogant or aloof. By the time he finally found a seat, his neck was slightly sore and his face felt as stiff as orange peel from all the smiling. He finally understood what it meant to be spurned when unknown, and courted when famous.

“When no one pays attention to you, you feel neglected—but when too many do, it’s not so pleasant either,” Lin Fan murmured, massaging his neck.

“Serves you right for loving the limelight,” Zhao Ying shot back.

“Big sister, wasn’t it you who got me into this mess? Ah, women—always the source of trouble,” Lin Fan sighed theatrically in a low voice, afraid Zhao Ying might hear.

“What did you say? I dare you to repeat that!” Seeing Zhao Ying about to snap, Lin Fan quickly changed the subject, turning to Feifei: “If you see anything you like later, make sure to tell your brother.”

Feifei didn’t mind Lin Fan’s words, but instead quietly asked, “Brother, have you not told Sister Ying that you’re the head of Zhentian Corporation…?”

“Mm,” Lin Fan hummed softly, clearly not wanting Zhao Ying beside him to overhear.

Hearing her brother admit it, Feifei felt a pang of disappointment. She had noticed Zhao Ying’s anxious, caring gaze just now, and considering Zhao Ying’s distinguished family background, Feifei felt she could never be a match for Lin Fan. Still, she did her best to hide her feelings, forced a playful smile, and said, “Brother, if my future sister-in-law finds out, she’ll never let you off!”

At the mention of “sister-in-law,” Lin Fan was briefly stunned, then chuckled, tacitly accepting Feifei’s words.

“What are you two whispering about behind my back?” Zhao Ying leaned over and asked.

Lin Fan promptly pulled Zhao Ying into his arms, his hand gently caressing her waist. His actions were shielded from Feifei’s view, but just seeing Lin Fan holding Zhao Ying left Feifei brimming with envy.

Zhao Ying didn’t resist—she rather enjoyed being held by Lin Fan. Resting in his strong, broad chest, she felt a deep sense of security.

“I don’t want anything at tonight’s auction. Save the money, invest it in your company. I believe you’ll make a name for yourself one day,” Zhao Ying said, her eyes flashing with concern, as if she’d guessed Lin Fan’s intentions.

In that moment, Lin Fan felt as if Zhao Ying had become a different person entirely.

Noticing her change, Lin Fan frowned slightly but said nothing. He certainly didn’t believe Zhao Ying looked down on him for being a security guard—if she did, why would she declare him her boyfriend in front of so many people? There must be something else. Yet every time, Zhao Ying stopped halfway through saying what was on her mind, leaving Lin Fan unsure whether to ask.

As Lin Fan was about to speak, Zhao Ying interrupted, “Don’t talk—the auction’s starting.”

Following Zhao Ying’s gaze, Lin Fan saw five or six well-dressed men stride confidently out of a private room beside the hall and seat themselves in the front row.

Though there was no assigned seating at the banquet, the front rows had remained empty. Lin Fan had thought people simply didn’t want to be too close to the stage, but he now realized it was because everyone knew their own place and dared not compete with the true VIPs for those seats.

Meanwhile, Jin Million rose from beside a young man in a black tuxedo and, with great poise, walked to the front and sat down openly.

No one objected. Even those few in the front row greeted Jin Million cordially, clearly recognizing that the future heir of the Haitian Group was fully qualified to sit among them.